Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Friday, May 9, 2014
Slom: Governor Should Seek Jones Act Exemption
By Sen. Sam Slom @ 3:16 PM :: 4640 Views :: Jones Act

Governor's task force agrees with Senator Slom, the state should seek a Jones Act exemption

News Release from Office of Senator Sam Slom

Honolulu – May 8, 2014 — Today, Senator Sam Slom called for the governor to seek an exemption to the Jones Act ship build requirement. Senator Slom says

"The Governor should follow the recommendations of his committee and should immediately seek an exemption from the Jones Act, particularly the ship build requirement. The Jones Act ship-build requirement is the main contributor to the high cost of living in Hawaii. Hawaiian residents are paying 68% more for food than mainlanders. I want to know, and I am sure the people of Hawaii want to know, when the Governor is going to ask for a Jones Act exemption for Hawaii?"

Senator Slom's comments address the news today that Matson shipping will be increasing the cost of fuel surcharges from 39.5% to 42.5%.[i] The Governor's own task force, the Hawaii Refinery Task Force (HRTF), proposed the state seek relief from the Jones Act ship build requirement in its final report published by DBEBT on April 9, 2014, and released April 28, 2014. Senator Slom wants to know "What the Governor’s plans are for seeking a Jones Act exemption and what is his timeline for relief to our state taxpayers?"

Senator Sam Slom has been a vocal opponent of the Jones Act ship build requirement and most recently, joined a multi-jurisdictional movement for a Jones Act exemption with Alaska and Puerto Rico. Senator Slom notes that Guam passed a resolution on April 15, 2014, also seeking relief from the effect of the Jones Act. Slom wonders why the governor has not already placed a plan for Jones Act U.S. ship build requirement relief into motion, "Our governor can contact the White House, federal senators and congressmen if he chooses to, in order to petition for an exemption. It is a simple matter of writing a letter or two, and making some phone calls. Hawaii needs relief from the Jones Act now." Recommendations made by a governor appointed HRTF support Slom's position that Hawaii will benefit from a Jones Act exemption.

The Hawaii Shippers Council president (Michael Hansen) also summarized DBEDT's press release and the Governor's response to the HRTF Final Report[ii]:

"Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie (D) established the 30-member Task Force by Executive Order No. 13-19 dated February 19, 2013 to identify the challenges and risks if one or both refineries in the State were permanently closed.  The Task Force was attached to the DBEDT’s Hawaii State Energy Office for administrative purposes and two private sector consultants – ICF International and Poten & Partners Inc. – were contracted to provide technical support and compile the Task Force report. Governor Abercrombie endorsed the Task Force’s Final Report in the official press release announcing its public availability, “This final report validates the importance of a sustained and reliable energy supply for the people of Hawaii.”"

Senator Slom responded to the Governor's HRTF endorsement saying, "What we need now are real solutions, with real economic impacts, that relieve our local residents from the escalating prices they pay as a consequence of the Jones Act."

# # # # #

Hawaii Refinery Task Force Final Report: Refinery Closure Report

[i] Matson to raise fuel surcharges for Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia

[ii] Hawaii State Task Force Recommends Jones Act Exemption

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii